Sunnyside resident celebrate 100th birthday

Joseph Nesci, standing center, is surrounded by his wife, Julia, of 72 years; his daughter, Joan; his grandson, David; two great-grandsons, and family members and friends on Saturday in Gargiuloâs Restaurant, Brooklyn, on the occasion of his 100th birthday.

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Having a positive attitude, keeping emotions on an even keel and learning to cope with stress are proven aids to longevity. It’s irrefutable that optimists live longer, healthier lives than do pessimists.

Witness Joseph Nesci, who seems to have embraced that philosophy.

Joseph entered the charm circle of centenarians on Saturday and celebrated the mega-milestone surrounded by family and friends in Gargiulo’s Restaurant — the historic dining spot located in Coney Island that celebrated its own centennial in 2007. The highlight was Joseph’s delivery of an impressive, heartfelt speech.

The Sunnyside resident was born to immigrants Elizabeth and Dominick Nesci on March 19, 1911 — on the feast of St. Joseph, his namesake. Joseph is the second-oldest in a family of five sisters and a brother.

A former staffer for Republic Aviation, an American aircraft manufacturer based in Farmingdale, L.I., a company that was responsible for the design and production of many important military aircraft, Joseph, during semi-retirement was a presser in the Garment District of Manhattan. In his retirement, the super-senior also spent time at DeVille Auto Collision, a family-owned business in Elm Park.

Joseph and Julia, 93, his wife of 72 years, are the parents of a daughter, Joan, grandparents of two and great-grandparents to two boys.

According to Joseph’s grandson, David Fazio, to this day his granddad enjoys taking in all types of sports, but his favorites continue to be baseball and football. But that doesn’t mean he doesn’t still make it to his great-grandchildren Joseph and Jonathan’s hockey and soccer games — he does, with pleasure.

An honorary member of The South Shore Rotary Club, the family patriarch takes pride in reminiscing about all of the great times he has had with family and friends.

When asked about poignant family moments, David notes that his grandfather still cherishes sitting at the head of the table during traditional, much-anticipated Sunday dinners, where kinfolk indulge in a feast of pasta and meatballs — and all the trimmings — a custom that’s practically a lost art in many households during these days when so many are separated by miles — and hectic lives.